148 – Justification
JUSTIFICATION
§ 148. The chief benefit of Christ’s vicarious obedience is the perfect righteousness obtained by Christ for all mankind,1 the acquisition of which God accepted as a reconciliation of the world to Himself,2 imputing to mankind the merit of the Mediator 3—general or objective justification—; and inasmuch as faith is the actual acceptance 4 of this imputation announced in the Gospel,5 or of the righteousness imputed 6 and offered in the Gospel,5 it is justifying faith,7 and God in His judgment 8 graciously 9 and for Christ’s sake 10 holds and pronounces 8 the believer 11 actually and by personal application fully absolved 12 from all guilt 13 and punishment 14 while in the state of faith 15—individual or subjective justification.
1. The chief benefit of Christ’s vicarious obedience is the perfect righteousness obtained by Christ for all mankind,…
Cf. Christology § 123.
2. …the acquisition of which God accepted as a reconciliation of the world to Himself,
Cf. Christology §§ 118. 123.
3. …imputing to mankind the merit of the Mediator —general or objective justification—;
II Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation.
Romans 5:18–19 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.
Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.
Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
I Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
4. …and inasmuch as faith is the actual acceptance
Cf. §§ 146. 147.
5. …of this imputation announced in the Gospel, / … and offered in the Gospel,
Cf. §§ 132. 133.
Romans 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
I Corinthians 1:30 But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
Jeremiah 23:6 In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness.
II Corinthians 5:18, 21 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. (21) For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.
John 20:23 Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.
Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
6. …or of the righteousness imputed
Romans 4:3 For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Romans 4:5-6, Rom:4:8-11, Rom 4:22-24 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works. (8–11) Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also. (22-24) And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.
Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7. …it is justifying faith,
Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law.
Isaiah 53:11 By His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify many.
Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the Law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law: for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
8. …and God in His judgment / …holds and pronounces
Romans 8:33–34 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Romans 5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
John 3:18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
9. … graciously
Romans 3:23–24, 28 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law.
Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace.
10. …and for Christ’s sake
Jeremiah 23:6 This is His name whereby He shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness.
Isaiah 53:11 By His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.
Romans 5:19 So by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.
Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died.
Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
11. …the believer
Romans 10:10-11 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.
Romans 3:22, 26, 30 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. (26) To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (30) Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Romans 4:5-6 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.
Acts 10:43 To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.
12. … actually and by personal application fully absolved
Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses.
Romans 4:7–8 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Acts 10:43 To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.
I John 1:7 The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Micah 7:18-19 Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Psalm 25:18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.
Isaiah 38:17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back.
Psalm 85:3-4 Thou hast taken away all Thy wrath: Thou hast turned Thyself from the fierceness of Thine anger. Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause Thine anger toward us to cease.
Psalm 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.
13. … from all guilt
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:31–32, 34 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (34) Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Matthew 18:27, 32 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. (32) Then his lord, after he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me.
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
14. …and punishment
Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.
Matthew 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
15. …while in the state of faith —individual or subjective justification.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:10–11 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.
Romans 3:26, 30 To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (30) Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Romans 4:5-6 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, His faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.
Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith.
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